Electrical connector for attenuating vibrations, in particular for the injector of a motor vehicle engine

ABSTRACT

The inventive connector includes a locking device for elastical interlocking which is provided with an axial stop surface forming jointly with the associate stop surface of the complementary locking device of a counterpart an mutual rest preventing the disconnection of the connector and the counterpart. Said connector includes an elastic vibration attenuating member arranged in such a way that it produces the mutual elastic rest force of the stop surfaces when the connector and the counterpart thereof are coupled. The invention can be used for connecting the injector of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/EP2005/009320 filed Aug. 30, 2005.

The present invention concerns an electrical connector designed to becoupled with a connector counterpart by elastic interlocking along acoupling direction, and comprising for this purpose a device that locksby elastic interlocking and has an axial stop surface provided in orderto create, together with a stop surface associated with a complementarylocking device of the counterpart, a mutual support opposing adisconnection of the connector and the counterpart.

In certain applications in severe environments, as is the caseparticularly for connection technology in the engine compartment ofmotor vehicles, the quality of the electrical contacts can be rapidlydegraded and malfunctioning can be generated.

In the particular example of a connection device for an internalcombustion engine injector, the connection base made in one piece withthe engine is subjected to high levels of vibration and is alsosubjected to temperature levels that are also very high.

With connectors and bases of the known type, locking devices that offera great simplicity of mounting of the connector onto the base, however,undergo significant wear and a loss of efficacy over the lifetime of thevehicle, due to these severe operating conditions. The progressive wearof the locking devices leads to an increase of the axial play betweenthe connector and the base, so that friction is produced between thecomplementary contacts of the base and the connector.

Thus the functioning of known connection devices of the type disclosedabove is affected in an amplified manner over time, since the appearanceof play generates wear, which itself increases the play, etc.

The object of the invention is to resolve this problem withoutincreasing the complexity of the locking devices of the connector andthe base, and without increasing the difficulty of positioning theconnector on the base.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an electricalconnector of the above-mentioned type, characterized in that itcomprises an elastic component for attenuating vibrations, arranged insuch a way as to create an elastic force of mutual support for the stopsurfaces, when the connector and its counterpart are coupled.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

-   -   the electrical connector comprises a peripheral seal, provided        in order to assure tightness between the connector and its        counterpart when they are coupled, and the elastic attenuating        component makes up part of said seal;    -   the peripheral seal is a lip seal; and    -   the seal is made in one piece, particularly of an elastomer.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the electricalconnector comprises a casing on which is provided the locking device,and a contact-bearing module, which is mounted inside the casing byinterlocking with the possibility of axial play, and the elasticattenuating component is arranged so as to be compressed axially betweenthe module and the casing, when the module is mounted in the casing,with the effect of locking the connector onto the counterpart.

Preferably, the peripheral seal is mounted on said contact-bearingmodule.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the connectorcomprises a contact-receiving casing, on which is provided the lockingdevice, and the elastic component is provided so as to be compressedaxially between the casing and the counterpart, with the effect oflocking the connector onto the counterpart.

Preferably, the peripheral seal is mounted on said casing.

The invention also pertains to a device for electrical connectioncomprising an electrical connector such as defined above, and a baseforming a counterpart for said connector, said base being a base of amotor vehicle part.

In particular, the base can be a base of an internal combustion enginepart of a motor vehicle, particularly a base for the fuel injector.

Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described in moredetail, in reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an electrical connectoraccording to a first embodiment of the invention, the contact-bearingmodule being separated from the casing;

FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1, cut in a median axial plane, andin a different direction from that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2,partially torn away, the module being mounted in the casing, andcontaining contacts connected to respective electric cables;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, in a median axial plane, of the connector ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, cut in a median axial plane, of theconnector of FIGS. 3 and 4, and of the base forming the counterpart, ina ready-to-engage position;

FIG. 6 is a view analogous to FIG. 5, in the position of completeengagement of the connector and the base;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view, in section, in a median axial plane, of aconnector according to a second embodiment of the invention and thebase, in a position of mutual engagement.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, we have shown an electrical connector conforming to afirst embodiment of the invention.

In the example shown, this connector 1 is of the two-way type for aninjector of the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, providedto be coupled with a base 3 (FIGS. 5 and 6) forming a counterpart forthe connector.

In all the Figures, we have introduced an X axis corresponding to thedirection of coupling and oriented in the direction of engagement of theconnector towards the base. The terms “front” and “back” used in thefollowing will be understood with regard to this orientation, supposingthat the connector is engaged onto the base by a movement from back tofront.

The terms “axial” and “transverse” will also be understood with regardto this X axis.

In the first embodiment of the invention represented in FIGS. 1 to 6,connector 1 comprises a contact-bearing module 5 and a casing 7, both ofinsulating material.

Module 5 is formed with two axial sockets 9, in which respectivecontacts 11 are received and fastened (only shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6).

Module 5 comprises a secondary locking key 10, mounted in a transverselymobile manner relative to sockets 9, between a standby position in whichit permits complete insertion of the contacts in the sockets, and aservice position in which it locks the contacts thus engaged in thesockets, opposing a force that would pull them out. Secondary lockingkey 10 extends generally along a transverse plane, i.e., orthogonalrelative to the X axis.

Casing 7 is designed as an envelope in which module 5 can be arrangedand fixed, and has a locking device 13, provided to assure, togetherwith a complementary device 15 of base 3, the detachable attachment ofconnector 1 onto base 3 in the coupled position.

Components 13, 15 for mutual locking of the connector and the base 3 aremeans for elastic interlocking functioning axially, i.e., along couplingdirection X.

In the example shown, locking device 13 has two essentially parallelaxial elastic arms 21, formed projecting and overhanging from aperipheral wall of casing 7. It also comprises a bridge 23 connectingthe two axial arms 21 from the side of their free end situated in frontand having a transverse stop surface 24 for the rear side. Lockingdevice 13 also comprises a maneuvering button 25, formed at its freeend.

On the inside, casing 7 has elastic interlocking components 31 (FIG. 2),in the form of lateral flexible tabs.

Each elastic tab 31 has a tooth 32 formed at its free back end, which isprovided to be engaged in a corresponding notch 33 formed laterally onmodule 5 (FIG. 1). Tooth 32 and notch 33 define together, when module 5is elastically interlocked in casing 7, an axial support opposingremoval, from back to front, of module 5 relative to casing 7. It willbe noted that interlocking components 31 and notches 33 are designed toallow a relative axial play from front to back of module 5 relative tocasing 7, from the support position of the tooth against the shoulderformed by notch 33, as is shown in FIG. 3.

Moreover, connector 1 comprises a peripheral lip seal 37 mounted byfitting onto module 5, and provided to assure an interfacial tightnessbetween base 3 and connector 1.

As is particularly visible in FIGS. 2 to 4, seal 37 has the generalshape of a sleeve provided with a series of flanges 41 in radialprojection defining lips (three in the example shown), and has, on thefront side, a rim 43 forming a shoulder.

In a corresponding manner, module 5 has a first peripheral back rim 45forming a shoulder for rim 43 and, over a part of its periphery,successively from back to front from the first rim, a second rim 47 anda third rim 48.

When module 5 is in its interlocked position in casing 7 (see FIG. 4, inparticular), rim 43 of the seal is supported on peripheral rim 45 ofmodule 5.

Seal 37 is then positioned without contact relative to a bottom surface51 of casing 7, which is inscribed in an annular surface, and situatedin the axial extension of the seal.

It will be noted that the secondary locking key 10 is arranged at thefront of the support surface of rim 47, provided to receive and supportseal 37. Thus, the seal does not come into contact with said key 10, andit does not hinder the movement of this key.

By referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, we will now succinctly describe base 3,which was shown schematically in these Figures.

Base 3 comprises an insulating casing 57 in which a series of contacts59 are arranged, terminal pins here, complementary to contacts 11 seatedin module 5. Casing 57 is formed with a skirt 61 inside of whichterminals 59 project axially.

The inside of skirt 61 is formed with a peripheral shoulder 62, whichconstitutes an engagement stop for rim 48 of module 5.

Locking device 15 complementary to locking device 13 of casing 7, isformed radially projecting from skirt 61. It is present as a tooth pieceendowed with an inclined ramp 63 turned toward the back, and with a backsurface 65 which is transverse relative to the X coupling axis, thisstop surface 65 facing the front.

As is visible more particularly in FIG. 6, when connector 1 and base 3are in mutual coupling position, the interfacial tightness betweenmodule 5 and casing 57 is created by contacting lips 41 with the innersurface of skirt 61.

By referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, one understands that the locking ofconnector 1 onto base 3 during their mutual coupling is produced in themanner explained below, module 5 being fixed inside casing 7 beforehand,as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

When module 5 is axially engaged in skirt 61, bridge 23 of lockingdevice 13 comes to be supported on inclined ramp 63 of tooth piece 15.

When this movement of axial engagement is continued, arms 21 aredeformed by bending and move away from the X axis, bridge 23 followinginclined face 63, until tooth piece 15 is engaged between arms 21 due totheir elastic recoil to their rest position.

Stop surface 24 of bridge 23 then comes to be supported on stop surface65 of tooth piece 15, so as to oppose the removal of connector 1.

During this phase of engagement, before elastic recoil of arms 21, frontrim 48 of module 5 comes to be stopped on inner shoulder 62 of skirt 61,so that the rest of the engagement movement of connector 1 onto base 3is accompanied by a relative axial movement of casing 7 relative tomodule 5. This relative movement is permitted by the axial play of tooth32 in notch 33. Thus, surface 51 of the bottom of casing 7 comes intocontact with the rear face of seal 37, by compressing rim 43 betweenthis annular face 51 and peripheral rim 45 of the module.

When arms 21 elastically return to their rest position, at the end ofthe engagement phase, rim 43 of seal 37 elastically pulls stop surfaces24, 65 of locking devices 13, 15 into mutual support, rim 43 of the sealremaining compressed.

When connector 1 and base 3 are thus coupled and in service position,rim 43 of the seal makes use of the elastic vibration attenuatingcomponent which limits the relative movements of stop surfaces 24, 65 ofthe locking devices.

Thus, as long as the acceleration forces caused by vibrations remaininferior to the support forces between stop surfaces 24, 65 and surfaces48, 62, there is no longer any relative movement inducing wear of theparts, and in the case where they may exceed the support forces, saidmovements are of lesser amplitude.

It will also be noted that rim 43 is undercut over a part of the sealperiphery (see FIGS. 5 and 6) so that the axial compression of seal 37,during coupling, is created solely over a part of the periphery of theseal. This characteristic permits adjusting the elastic recoil forceapplied to the locking devices, and so that the coupling of connector 1onto base 3 does not require an excessive coupling force.

The one-piece (or single block) design of the seal and the elasticcomponent has the advantage of low cost of manufacture and mounting.

However, the invention can also be envisioned, as will be seen in thefollowing, with an elastic component separate from the seal. In such acase, one can possibly choose different materials to create the elasticcomponent, on the one hand, and the seal, on the other hand. Forexample, an elastomer having specific attenuating properties can bechosen to make up the elastic component. As a variant, this elasticcomponent could be made up of a metal spring.

In FIG. 7, a connection device conforming to a second embodiment of theinvention is shown schematically, in which base 3 is identical to thebase shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, complementary connector101 differs from connector 1 essentially in that it does not have acontact-bearing module, and in that the elastic component is a separatepiece from the seal, as mentioned above.

Sockets 109 for receiving contacts 11 are formed in insulating casing107. This casing is provided with a locking device 13, which can beidentical to that described previously and shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

Casing 107 thus comprises a body 105 analogous to module 5, and on theperipheral surface of which is fitted lip seal 137. A shoulder 139,formed projecting radially from the outer surface of body 105, receivesseal 137 in axial support, so as to hold the seal in its functioningposition on body 105.

The connector also comprises an annular elastic component 152, arrangedon a periphery of casing 107, in the axial extension of the seal, andsupported on the opposite side of shoulder 139. In the example shown,elastic component 152 is made of the same elastomer material as lip seal137.

Elastic component 152 is analogous to rim 43 in the first embodimentdescribed, in that it constitutes the elastic attenuating component,which is compressed during the coupling of connector 101 onto base 3,and which elastically pulls the stop surfaces of complementary lockingdevices 13, 15 into mutual support at the end of the engagement phase.

As is visible in FIG. 7, elastic component 152 is compressed betweeninner shoulder 62 of the base and shoulder 139.

By minor modifications of existing connectors, and, in particular, byminor modifications of peripheral lip seals, the invention that has justbeen described permits reducing the effects of vibration on the wear ofthe locking devices, and incidentally, improving the contact reliabilityof the connection device.

The advantage obtained is particularly important in the case ofconnectors for fuel injection systems for motor vehicle engines, giventhe high level of vibrations, temperature and mechanical stresses.

1. An electrical connector provided to be coupled with a connectorcounterpart by elastic interlocking along a coupling direction (X), andcomprising for this purpose a device that locks by elastic interlockingand has an axial stop surface provided to create a mutual support,together with an associated stop surface of a complementary lockingdevice of the counterpart, opposing a disconnection of the connector andthe counterpart, said connector also comprising an elastic component anda peripheral seal, wherein the elastic component is arranged in such away as to create an elastic force of mutual support of the stopsurfaces, when the connector and the counterpart are coupled,characterized in that the connector comprises a casing on which isprovided a locking device, and a contact-bearing module which is mountedinside the casing by an interlocking connection of the contact-bearingmodule with the casing, wherein the elastic component contacts a firstportion of the contact-bearing module, wherein the interlockingconnection is sized and shaped to allow relative axial play between thecontact-bearing module and the casing, and in that the elastic componentis compressed axially between the module and the casing, when the moduleis mounted in the casing, with the effect of locking the connector ontothe counterpart, and wherein the peripheral seal is fitted onto a seconddifferent portion of the contact-bearing module.
 2. The electricalconnector according to claim 1, further characterized in that theperipheral seal is provided so as to assure tightness between theconnector and the counterpart when they are coupled, and in that theelastic component is part of said seal.
 3. The electrical connectoraccording to claim 2, further characterized in that the peripheral sealis a lip seal.
 4. The electrical connector according to claim 2, furthercharacterized in that the seal is made in a single piece, particularlyof an elastomer.
 5. The electrical connector according to claim 1,further characterized in that the peripheral seal is mounted on saidcontact-bearing module.
 6. An electrical connection device comprising anelectrical connector according to claim 1, and a base forming thecounterpart of said connector, said base being a base of a motor vehiclepart.
 7. The electrical connection device according to claim 6, furthercharacterized in that said base is a base of an internal combustionengine part of a motor vehicle, in particular, a base of the fuelinjector.
 8. An electrical connector configured to be coupled with aconnector counterpart, the electrical connector comprising: a casingcomprising a locking device having a first stop surface, wherein thefirst stop surface is sized and shaped to engage a second stop surfaceof a complementary locking device of the connector counterpart foropposing disconnection of the connector and the connector counterpart,wherein the locking device is sized and shaped to lock with thecomplementary locking device by elastic interlocking; a contact-bearingmodule movably mounted to the casing by an interlocking connection,wherein the interlocking connection is sized and shaped to allowrelative axial movement between the contact-bearing module and thecasing; an elastic component located between portions of the casing andthe module such that, when the connector is mounted to the connectorcounterpart, the module is located to be moved relative to the casing bycontact of the module with the connector counterpart, and the elasticcomponent is compressed axially between the module and the casing tothereby bias the first stop surface against the second stop surface andreduce vibrations between the connector and the connector counterpart,and wherein the elastic component contacts a first surface of thecontact bearing-module; and a peripheral seal fitted onto a seconddifferent surface of the contact-bearing module.
 9. The electricalconnector according to claim 1 wherein the elastic component and theperipheral seal are integrally formed as a one piece member.
 10. Theelectrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the elastic componentand the peripheral seal comprise separate members.
 11. The electricalconnector according to claim 1 wherein the elastic component comprises arim forming a shoulder.
 12. The electrical connector according to claim11 wherein the first portion of the contact-bearing module comprises aperipheral rim, and wherein the rim of the elastic component contactsthe peripheral rim of the contact-bearing module.
 13. The electricalconnector according to claim 1 wherein the first portion of thecontact-bearing module is spaced from the second portion of thecontact-bearing module.
 14. The electrical connector according to claim8 wherein the elastic component and the peripheral seal are integrallyformed as a one piece member.
 15. The electrical connector according toclaim 8 wherein the elastic component and the peripheral seal compriseseparate members.
 16. The electrical connector according to claim 8wherein the first surface of the contact-bearing module is spaced fromthe second surface of the contact-bearing module.